The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-24
WOMEN HORSE THIEVES.
A NEST OF THEN In INDIANA
BROKEN UP.
The Mother Captured, but Only
After She Had Been Shot and
Severely Wounded.

AURORA, IND, March 23.-Mr. Brit
ten, OF the Indiana Horse Thief De-
tective Secret Service Force, spent q
few hours in the city yesterday on
official business, and among other
matters related briefly the history OF
horse thief rendezvous just across the
border on the Illinois side that he had
assisted In breaking up. The place
was run by womsn and her two
daughters. In the rear OF their rude
dwelling was dense thicSet covering
many acres Of ground. In this thick
copse the animals that were stolen
from time to time were secretsd. The
absence OF any men folks aided In
throwing suspicion from the lone
women, and their humble home was
never believed to bs the resort OF some
OF the worst horse tn ewes in the
country, and only through the confess
sion OF convicted member OF the
gang were the officers made aware OF
the character of the unsupported
place. When descent was made on
the house The girls were there alone
and were placed under arrest, but one
of them succeeded in discharging
gun, and soon thersafte the mother
emerged from the thicket near the
house, but on discovering the officers
she fed back into the copse, aud al
though the officers gave chase
che eluded them, and by fir
ing several ehols from her retreat,
checked their continued pursuit. De-
termined to capture her, the arrestiDg
party spread out along the-edge of
the wooded tract and cautiously es-
sayed 10 penetrate from different d.
rec ions. Suddenly the woman dashed
out along a mario " path on horseback,
riding man fashion. As quick as the
men could mount their animals they
followed the fugitive female, who
rode as fearlessly as d veteran
trooper. Failing to catch her, the
officers opened fire upon her, and not
until they had gslloped several miles
and wounded her 30 badly that she
fell from her painting horse, were they
able to effect her capture.
Then as soon ss she recov-
cred sufficiently from her fall
to speak, she swore at them
anu OubTtu I65lb huCo uulll hduuCuhoo
and tied to seat in a wagon. A re-
volver with its chambers empty was
in her pocket. Two balls, one in the
shoulder, the other in her eide, and
her fall flom the horse, failed to con-
quer her, and she was landed in Jail as
defiant as an Indian. A physician pro
nounced her injuries not serious, and
she may live to serve out good SEN
tence. The animal she was riding had
been stolen from Marion county, and
in the thicket, when Investigated, thir-
teen horses wers found secreted, all oil
which were believed to have been
stolen, owners having been found for
five OF them. Feed was found
stored in the woods, and two buggiee
that had been taken to pieces and
covered up. The appearance OF the
place indicated that 1t had probably
been used q number OF years as 9
depot for stolen animals to be KEEP
until they could be successfully dis
posed OF, the women taking care o
the beasts and receiving share o
the proceeds, as something over $8OI
was found in the house and numbe
OF stolen articles. This" said thu
detective, twas one Of the best cap
lures we made during the past year
and broke up gang that beat tn
Tom Foster forces for daring out
lawry."